Motion Picture and TV Industry Directly Employs More than 8,500 Local Workers and Paying $348.5 Million in Wages

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, as Congress continues to consider Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation, the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) is revealing new state economic data in Washington, showing that the state’s film and TV industry directly employs more than 8,500 workers, paying $348.5 million in wages. That economic activity is the foundation of a vibrant statewide industry that consists of more than 2,150 motion picture and television industry businesses and is responsible for more than 37,600 jobs.

Overall, the American motion picture and TV industry supports 1.9 million jobs nationwide. Overseas markets are critical to the success of the US motion picture and TV industry, which registered $15.8 billion in exports and a positive services trade surplus of $13.4 billion in 2013.

To continue growing film and TV exports, it’s important that Congress pass trade promotion authority (TPA) legislation. This legislation is an important step towards finalizing strong trade agreements like TPP that will allow the motion picture and TV industry to create more jobs in the U.S. by reaching some of the world’s biggest and most important markets.

The motion picture and television industry’s economic impact touches every corner of the U.S., including Washington, which hosted the production of 7 movies and 3 TV series from 2013 to 2014. A few example productions include “Captain Fantastic,” “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” and “The Legend of Mick Dodge,” among others.

MPAA Chairman and CEO Senator Chris Dodd stated, “The motion picture and television industry is a major American exporter and driver of economic growth. Passage of TPA is a key step for completing trade agreements like TPP that will increase America’s global competiveness and promote the good-paying jobs that our industry supports in all 50 states.”

Click here for an INFOGRAPHIC that further outlines the link between trade, movies, and American jobs. And visit TheCredits.org to find out more about the creativity, innovation, and workers behind-the-scenes of the American movie and television industry.

About the MPAA

The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) serves as the voice and advocate of the American motion picture, home video and television industries from its offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Its members include: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Paramount Pictures Corporation; Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; Universal City Studios LLC; and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.